The Green Bay Packers addressed a significant need in their safety room during the offseason by signing Xavier McKinney in free agency. Despite signing McKinney, the Packers still face uncertainty at strong safety.
Justin Simmons remains available in free agency. However, Brian Gutekunst prefers a younger prospect with growth potential.
“Certainly, I think we’d always prefer to have a younger guy that’s gonna have his best football ahead of him,” said Gutekunst. That eliminates the possibility of Green Bay pursuing Simmons, and there are no apparent discussions about bringing Rudy Ford back.
As the 2024 NFL Draft approaches, Green Bay seems poised to maintain the status quo within its safety unit. The team features a room with Xavier McKinney alongside players like Anthony Johnson Jr., Zayne Anderson, Zyon Gilbert, Tyler Coyle, Christian Young, and Benny Sapp III.
The Packers are likely to target multiple safeties in the draft. Utah’s Cole Bishop could pique Green Bay’s interest because his skillset aligns with the team’s criteria for defensive backs.
Bishop possesses the versatility to excel in strong safety and free safety roles. The 2024 safety class lacks standout prospects, making Bishop’s well-rounded skillset even more attractive to NFL teams. In recent mock drafts, Bishop’s projected draft position has varied, with some forecasts placing him as high as the second round and others predicting him to be selected as late as the fifth.
He has demonstrated good tackling ability throughout his collegiate career, accumulating over 130 tackles in his last two seasons at Utah. Green Bay has struggled with tackling efficiency in the past two seasons, ranking 15th in tackling grade according to Pro Football Focus. For a team aspiring to contend, settling for average tackling is not ideal. Bishop’s prowess as a tackler presents an opportunity for the Packers to address this deficiency and inject physicality into their defense.
Bishop has a knack for excelling in man coverage, particularly against tight ends. His combination of good length and burst enables him to excel in pursuit situations, allowing him to close gaps quickly and make impactful tackles. His proficiency against tight ends could prove valuable for Green Bay, particularly given their matchups against tight ends like Sam LaPorta and T.J. Hockenson, whom they face twice a year.
While Bishop could go in the second round, the Packers must remain vigilant, especially considering the relatively shallow depth of this year’s safety draft class. With five selections inside the top 100, the Packers can maneuver around the draft board to ensure they secure Bishop if he aligns with their evaluation and draft strategy.
Jeff Hafley recruited Bishop to Boston College in 2021. The connection between Bishop and Hafley could meaningfully influence Green Bay’s interest in Bishop as a potential draft target.
Bishop can contribute across all three phases of the field by fulfilling the profile of the versatile defensive back that the Packers are likely seeking. His instincts and adeptness at jumping routes signify his potential to make game-changing plays in coverage. However, he must adapt his speed to match the quickness of NFL offenses. Moreover, improving his sideline-to-sideline coverage will be crucial for him to excel at the next level.
Bishop could develop into a reliable starter under Hafley’s guidance. While he already has considerable skill, like many rookies, Bishop must refine certain raw techniques upon entering the league. Hafley’s coaching expertise makes him the ideal mentor to maximize Bishop’s potential. Notably, Hafley played a pivotal role in developing Jeff Okudah, who became a third-overall pick.
The Packers will likely have a clear opportunity to select Cole Bishop. It’s more a matter of when and where they choose to do so. Green Bay should have Bishop ranked highly on their draft board. If the opportunity arises and the value is right, Brian Gutekunst will not hesitate to pair Bishop with Xavier McKinney.
